Furnace tilting device



June 7 w. E. MOORE 9 ,505

I FURNACE TILTING DEVICE I Filed Oct. 11-, 1941 5 Sheets-Shea} 1 I VINVENTOR ATTORNEYS flame 13, 1946. W E MQQRE FURNACE TILTING DEVICE Filed 001:. l 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/IIIIIIII/ 1 IIIIIII/I/II/A v I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 18, 1946. w MOORE 2,402,505

FURNACE TILT ING DEVICE Filed Oct. ,11, 1941 s Sheets-Shet s INVENT OR B Md ATTORNEYS "VTIIVIII Of Figure 15;

Patented June 18, .1946

, U D STATES PATENT OFFICE FURNACE TILTING DEVICE Delaware Engineerin tion of DelawarevApplication October 11, 1941, Serial No. 414;661

'7 fllaimsr (Cl. 121*46) This invention relates in general to the furnace art and is particularly applicable toelectricfurnaces of the tilting type and will be described with reference thereto.

From time to ti'me'in'the operation of a furnace it is necessary to tilt the -furnace to discharge all 1 the furnace and thus its degree of tilt, Izprovide simple means permitting such adjustment, :said means being enclosed in the cylinder and piston unit and readily accessible for radjus'tment, even when the unit is connected in operatingposition.

Figure 19 is a sectional view along the line IX-TX of Figure ?5; Band Figure 10 is a view of the closed end piston.

The drawingsshow an electric furnace, generally designated by the numeral Ill, which is constructed in accordance with conventional practice; The furnace includes a metal shell II to the iront-of-which two metal brackets l2 are rigidly secured on opposite sides of the pouring spout l3. The outer-end o'f -ea'chbracket is journalled by the pins "between the bifurcated upper end of spaced-apart metal supports l5 which rest ona; suitable foundation 1.6. v

A pair of jacks 11 consisting of hydrauliccylinder Cand piston P are connected between yoke-'like'brackets l8, securedto the shell I1, and bearing blocks 1 9 which are fastened to the bottom-of a pit .20 formed in the foundation l6.

0f the The brackets I8 are secured to the shell I! at The-mechanism is such as-to provide for maxi- I mum travel of the cylinder and piston ,relativeto one :another, and is fluid operated to lift the furnace'. The furnace'is lowered by its own weight, and the distance of travel and the rate :of :lowering are controlled by regulating the discharge of the activating fluid, usually hydrocarbon oil having the desired physical characteristics.

The provision of a universal connection between the furnace and its tilting mechanism en- :ables theapparatus to function. smoothly and eificiently, even though portions of the furnace become warped permanently or temporarily due ,to the expansion and contraction caused by the heatof operation of the furnace.

In the drawings showing the present preferred embodiment of .my invention, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a furnace, employing my tilting apparatus;

Figure .2 ,is a top plan view of the jfurnace shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of partly "in section; v V

Figure 4 is a sectional view 'along the line IVIV of Figure l, but to an enlarged scale;

Figure '5 is a view, partly in section and partly in broken elevation of the piston and cylinder arrangement;

Fig. '6 is aview ofthe closed end of the cylinder;

Figure "7 is a sectional "view along the "line VIIVII of Figure 53' Figure '8 is a sectional-view along the line the j f urnace,

opposite sides thereof at a point above the convex bottom and to the left-or rear-of the vertical center lineof the furnace as seen in Figure 1. The bearingblocks 19 are also placed to the left of the vertical center'line but closer to it than are the brackets.

The cylinder C is journalled in the brackets [8 by pins -2l and 22 which are received in the bracket and extend from a trunnion collar 23 which encircles the cylinder at a point above the center of-the cylinder, Aline through the longitudinal axis of the four pins 2| and 22 is parallel to the line through the centers of pins Ill.

The-collar 2 3 is in turn journalled'by pins 24 and 25 to the two longitudinallyextending trunnion- "bearing brackets 26 and 21 respectively which are welded to the outside of the cylinder at points on opposite sides of the collar. The pins 24 and 25 are "in the same plane as the pins 2| and 22 of each cylinder and. the axis passing through the pins 24 ==and 25 is at right angles to the axis passing through the pins 2i and 22.

This arrangement is in effect a universal joint connection.

The piston -P is hollow "and is slidably received in and extends downwardly from the cylinder C. "-I'he lower end of the piston is closed by a piston end-trunnion :in which there is a fluid admitting passage 29 leading from the outside to-the interior of the piston. The operation of the cylinder and pistonis regulatedby controlling the iiowof actuating Iiuid under pressure,'usually oil through :the passage '29 by means of a valve 30 inknown fashion. A hole 3! is provided through t'he end-of the trunnion, theaxis of the member 34, one end of which is closed by a circular cylinder head 55 welded to the cylinder end.- The cylinder head has a circumferential flat portion 36 and a centrally located inwardly depressed portion or socket 3] having 'a'tentral opening 38 extending throughth'e endther'eofi A bleed hole 39 is provided in the cylinder head near the flat portion 36 and extends upwardly in-- 3 Q to the depressed portion. A circular gland cap 43 having a central vent 4! closed by a screw 42 extends across the socket 31 and is attached to the flat portion 36 by equally spaced bolts 43. A packing ring 44 is interposed between the cylinder head and the gland cap. -.Two dowel pins 45 extend from the inner side of the gland cap in the head 45 of an adjusting rod 4.1,whichh'ead is rotatably received in the socket 3T. 1-

The rod 41 projects through the hole 38 in the end 'of the socket and extends along the longitu- Q twelve foot cylinder,

and into the socket 31 and are received in holes dinal axis of the cylinder C to a point just short of the open end of the cylinder. The end ofthe bolt is threaded and on the thread a travelling adjusting nut 48 is received. .1 L 1 The upper end or'open; end of the piston P is received in ,the lower end or open end of "the a" cylinder C and isslidably engaged by the; circular bushing 49 which is inserted in an enlarged portion of the lower end of the cylinder and extends vfor aconsiderable distance-along the cylinder.

The interior diameter of the bushing is less than the internal diameter of the .cylinder and the saine diameter as the outer diameter of the piston; The long bushin stabilizes the jack against buckling. Between the outer end of the bushing 49 which terminates short of the, open end of the cylinder C and the gland cap 58, suitable packing such as chevron, packing ringsis interposed. By means of suitable bolts 52 passing through the gland cap and engaging a flange 53 secured to the outside of the lower end of the cylinder gagement with the cylinder C; the bushing 49 and the pistonP- v y A short distance from the open or upper end of the piston P a piston head His secured to the inner side of the piston, as by welding. The piston head is located insuch a position as to just clear the depressed portion of cylinder head 35 when the open end of the piston is in contact with the inner face of the flat portion 36. The piston head 54 is circular in outline, closely fits inside the piston, has a central Opening 55 therethrough of larger'diameter than the adjusting rod 41, and has two diametrically opposed circumferential slots or oil pasasges 56 arranged as shown inFig. 8. I

Extending from a position'near the lower side of the piston head 54'to'a position near the closed end of the piston P, are tw diametrically 0pposed parallel guide strips or splines 51 secured to the inner wall of the piston. I The keys or splines 51 are rectangular in shape-and serve to prevent rotation'of' the adjusting nut 48 relative to the piston P9 The nut-has two circum- C the packingis forced; into sealing enferentia1 groovesor slots 58.-extending parallel.

to the bore into which the splines loosely fit so substantially at right/angles to the grooves 58 in the nut.

The length of the adjusting'rod 41 is such that it extends to a. point just short of the piston-receiving or lower end of the cylinder, and the piston and cylinder are of such lengths as to allow a generous overlap say about twenty inches in a and with a piston of approximately the same length as the cylinder. When the pistonis fully inserted in the cylinder the end of the adjustin rod 41 terminates an appreciable distance from the closed end of the piston P.

.The amount of extension of the piston relative to the cylinder is limited by the adjusting nut 48 coming in contactwiththe piston head 54, and is controlled by varying the-position of the adjusting nut ,48 onthe adjusting rod 41. This may readily be done even while the-apparatus is-atthe desired-position by appropriate rotation of the adjusting rod.- It is also evident that the position of the adjusting nut 48 can be regulated by turning the piston relative to the cylinder, but thi .method in general could not be so convenient when-the apparatus is operatively connected to a furnace.

To tilt the furnace to the pouring position indicated by broken lines 59 inFigure 1, oil under suitable'pressure is admitted to both jacks through the passages 29 by manipulation of valve 30. It is advisable to ensure that'there is no air in the jack and this can be done by allowing any air that may be present to escape through the bleed hole 39 and vent 4 l.' To permit the furnace toretu'rn to level position, the oil is allowed'to flow out of the jack through valve 30, propelled by the weight of the furnace. The furnace is supportedin level position on legs 60 which are secured to the bottom of the furnace shell on the side of the furnace opposite the tilting pivots or pins 14, and rest on the foundation Hi. In the level position there is no strain Jack.

It is realized that the present invention may be embodied in constructions other than those specifically disclosed herein and therefore the disclosure is to be considered as .illustrative and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the invention and within the scope of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use with a tilting furnace having a pivotal support about which the furnace may be tilted and a foundation, the invention which comprises means interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace about the pivotal support, said means including a cylinder and co-operating piston interposed between the furnace and the foundation, and means en closed within the cylinder for regulating the length of travel of the piston relative to the cylinder, said means including an adjusting rcd rotatably received in the cylinder and extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the rodhaving a threaded portion, a nut engaged by the threaded portion, means in the piston for restraining the rotation of the nut, the piston having a piston head through which the adjusting rod passes.

2. For use with a tilting furnace having a pivotal support about which the furnace may be tilted and a foundation, the invention which comprises means interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace about the pivotal support, said means including a cylinder and co-operating piston interposed between the furnace and the foundation, said cylinder having a cylinder head sealing one end thereof, the other end being open, the cylinder head having an inwardly directed depressed portion, a hole in the center of the depressed portion, a headed rod passing through said hole and extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the head of the rod being received in the depressed portion, the end of the rod being threaded, a nut engaged by the threaded portion, said piston having a closed end and an open end, the open. end being slidably received in the cylinder, a piston head fixed in the piston adjacent the open end thereof, a hole in the piston head through which the rod passes, the head being located between the adjusting nut and the cylinder head when the piston is in operating position in the cylinder.

3. For use with a tilting furnace having a pivotal support about which the furnace may be tilted and a foundation, the invention which comprises means interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace about the pivotal support, said means including a cylinder and co-operating piston interposed between the furnace and the foundation, said cylinder having a cylinder head sealing one end thereof, the other end being open, the cylinder head having an inwardly directed depressed portion, a hole in the center of the depressed portion, a headed rod passing through said hole and extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the head of the rod being received in the depressed portion, the end of the rod being threaded, a nut engaged by the threaded portion, said piston having a closed end and an open end, the open end being slidably received in the cylinder, a piston head fixed in the piston adjacent the open end thereof, a hole in the piston head through which the rod passes, the head being located between the adjusting nut and the cylinder head when the piston is in operating position in the cylinder, and a passage for fluid arranged in the cylinder head leading into the upper end of the depressed portlOIl.

4. For use with a tilting furnace having a pivotal support about which the furnace may be tilted and a foundation, the invention which comprises means interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace about in the center of the depressed portion, a headed rod passing through said hole and extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the head of the rod being received in the depressed portion, the end of the rod being threaded, a nut engaged by the threaded portion, said piston havinga closed end and an open end, the open end being slidably received in the cylinder, a piston head fixed in the piston adjacent the open end thereof, a hole in the piston head through which the rod passes, the head being located between the adjusting nut and the cylinder head when the piston is in operating position in the cylinder, a passage for fluid arranged in the cylinder head leading into the upper end .of the depressed portion, and a controlled fluid vent in the closed end of the cylinder.

5. For use with a tilting furnace pivotally mounted on a foundation and having a cylinder and piston unit interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace on its pivotal mounting; the invention herein described that comprises a universal joint positioned between the body of the cylinder and the body of the furnace for pivotally securing the cylinder to the furnace with said piston directed downward, comprising a yoke-like bracket secured to the furnace body, and means for providing a piv-' otal bearing between said foundation and the end of the piston.

6. For use with a tilting furnace pivotally mounted on a foundation and having a cylinder and piston unit interposed between the furnace and the foundation for tilting the furnace on its pivotal mounting; the invention herein described in a universal joint for securing the cylinder to the furnace body which comprises a trunnion collar encircling the cylinder, a yoke-like bracket on-the furnace, bearing pins between the collar and bracket, and a trunnion bracket bridging the trunnion collar and connected to the cylinder and pivotally connected to the trunnion collar at right angles to the bearing pins, the yoke-like bracket being connected to the furnace at a point beyond the center line of the furnace and distant from the pivotal support.

7. For use with a tilting furnace having a pivoted support about which the furnace may be tilted anda foundation for the support, the invention which comprises fluid operated extensible means including a hollow cylinder and a cooperating hollow piston telescopically received in the cylinder, the cylinder having a closed upper end and open lower end, the piston having a closed lower end and open upper end, the open end of the piston being received in the open end of the cylinder, and means including an adjust- 

